Hump Day...

I'm in the middle of my GLORIOUS 3 days off and I'm loving EVERY SINGLE MOMENT of it!

I haven't taken my big camera out to take any photos because the flowers are blooming wierdly this year. Normally, the Dogwoods bloom earlier with the pear trees. NOT so this year, my dogwoods are just now getting buds on them. So, my "phabulous photography" skills will come out in a couple of weeks! hee (I KNOW ya'll just can't WAIT!!)

So, mean time, to appease my yearning to take pictures, I have been pestering, aggravating, pleading with my family to PLEASE let me take their picture. Britt let me take one, with my Blackberry Tour (with the CUTEST pink case)...notice her forced, fake smile!!!

Britt and I had to go to Verizon the other day and replace our phones. The track ball kept getting stuck, which is a common problem for the earlier release Tours. I was in heaven while there and asked poor Nicholas, our tech-support guy, a thousand techy-type questions.

He actually was amazed at my knowledge! He didn't say so, but I could tell!!!

In fact, when he got done with swapping our phones for the newer Tours (which I could have done myself, but didn't tell him that) he went and took a break!

My next photo was at the Ryan's Breakfast-Buffet Bar the other morning. He didn't know I was taking it! hee I took this picture to send to Ashley's Blackberry so she could keep up with what we're doing. Our usual!!

This next pic is at Olive Tree Restaurant in Mauldin. I was TRYING to get a picture of them doing what we were doing. I could NOT get them two to behave and this was the best of the worst...also taken with my Blackberry Tour (with the CUTEST pink cover)...

Notice the blurriness! WELL...that is partially from their clowning around and not sitting still and partially because in my exuberance of getting my NEW Tour, I forgot to peel the protective plastic off the camera lens. whatev.

AND...this last picture is a sad one. I'm still upset by it and wanted to share my upsetness with ya'll.

Courtney and Bubba went squirrel shooting the other day and Courtney shot her first squirrel.

She was PROUD and took a picture of it...

She took this picture with her Blackberry Tour (with no pretty cover) and sent it to my Blackberry Tour. I was SOOOOO MAD!

If you aren't going to eat it, don't shoot it!

She said Bubba let her use his shotgun and she got it with her first shot. WHATEVER.

He said the squirrel's have been getting in his garden and he was doing population control.

It's wrong and I told her and Bubba to have a funeral for it and sing Amazing Grace.

Well, that's it for the moment....no wonder Buddy (my poodle) has to take nerve pills!

L8r-

Joan and herd

SOME of my Favorites of what I love most...my family!

I was reviewing my pictures I've taken...and a FEW Dad has taken, and figured I'd put some of them on here. Since it's mostly family that looks at my blog, you may recognize people!

This next pic is of us at Ashley's going away party before she went to boot camp.

Court has lost alot of weight as has Britt. I'm still working on it! ha

This next pic is of my Uncle Harry and Aunt Esther...

Dad took that one at my Uncle Dales birthday party.

Here is Mike and Court at Homecoming..

Here are my babies in Hiawassee, Ga where Court sang..

Here is Dad and Court before her prom..

Here are my babies again at Mauldin High School where Court won the talent contest..

Dad took this next pic of Court when she won...

I LOVE IT!

Here is Mike, his Mom and Court at the Martin Luther King Jr. awards program where Court was selected as a representative for her high school..

Here is Court and Bubba on TV where they performed together...

Dad took those pics of his TV!

Here is one of my favorites of Britt...

This next picture, I LOVE...it was taken while Ash was home this last time..

Here is Ash graduating from A-School as a BM-3

Here is one of my favs of Ash...

Here is me and Britt...she really does love me!

Here are Britt and Court at Harold's benefit...

Here is one of Dad's favorite pictures..

I love this next picture..

Here are the girls in New Jersey at Ashley's graduation from boot

This next pic is Courtney going to her first day of school as a SENIOR!!

Here is Grandma Terry on her 91st Birthday

AND...lastly, but not leastly...my camera...

It's partially responsible for these and MANY MANY other pictures...that and my unique and equally impressive photography skills! BAH-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Well, that's it for the moment...enjoy!

Joan

SUN-Day...

or CLOUD-Day!! If anyone wants an accurate forecast for Mauldin area...get my work schedule. When I'm off...rain/cold. When I'm working...sunny/warm. whatev.

So...my beautiful niece has been playing soccer again! I wasn't there, but Dad was and took some GREAT pics...http://picasaweb.google.com/larrychanda/SoccerSouthsideVsMauldin25March2010#

I like this one

She give 100% and still manages to look incredible!

I would tell you where Mom and Dad went yesterday, but I think I'll wait till he gets his pictures online so I can SHOW ya'll where they went. I had told them I wasn't going to mention it on here, but I have changed my mind. I want EVERYone to know. Stay tuned!

That's it for this morning...have a great day!

Joan

Family

I just had an eye-opening experience these past few days and I want to share part of it.

What makes the world go 'round is our differences...in looks, opinions, hair-do's, life-style choices, political opinions etc....

I think it's wonderful that we are able to share those differences with our family and not be put down or shamed for them and hopefully be treasured for it! I think it's wonderful that we have the mental capacity to even have those differences and not be handicapped in our own worlds.

SO, today, I chose to celebrate differences.

To know both of my families, you would understand how comfortable we are in our differences...we have a little of everything and we love EVERYONE for who they are...

YES, even the Democrats in the family! HAAAAAAAAAA

Actually, I voted Republican, but alot of what I believe in...the Health Care Reform for example...is Democratic!

If all the controversary that is surrounding us on the news today could teach me one thing, it's that we could all learn how to listen and NOT be prejudiced by what others (who don't know anything either) are saying. Not to put down others or prejudge them because their thinking isn't like our own.

Our country has come from no women/blacks voting to EVERY citizen voting and valued!

From liquor being outlawed to liquor EVERYWHERE! WOO-HOOOOO!

Lets continue to progress!!!

That could be applied to everything in life!

Now that I'm done with my Paul Harvey moment, on to family stuff!

Courtney had to...of ALLL DAYS...work. We are feverishly trying to get things ready for the cook-out in 2 weeks and we're being abandoned! Actually, Britt and Lee are going to help paint the front porch posts, which have needed painting for like 5 years now. Mike is also cleaning out the garage which has needed it for like 10 years now! HA

So, before we got started (I'm taking a break now updating my blog! hee), we had to take Court some lunch. Here is Mike at Paradise Tan, where she works...

Here is Court working...

Awww....

Mike visits her ALLL the time up there...making sure there are NO BOYS hanging around. He also likes to meet her up there when she gets off work to make sure she walks all 10 steps to her car safely. whatev. She doesn't mind!!!

OH.......I also have re-vamped up my Twitter page. I think I twitter to only myself, but who cares! At least I have a captive audience! BAH-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

My twitter page is:

www.twitter.com/JoanArnold

Ashley was on duty all night, so she is getting off work about nowish.

OH....OTHER BIG NEWS! I believe she has hounded the poor truck driver of her truck enough, that he is now delivering her truck a WEEK EARLY and she's getting it MONDAY at NOON! I pity the poor driver...I KNEW he should have never given her his number!! I guess it pays to pester...and is she good at it! Ha

Have a great day today and remember that to think independently and be different is GOOD!

Love to all-

Joan

New pics

Ashley has moved into her apartment and sent a picture of her den with her new couch!

Then, last night her and some friends went to a waterfall there...

Can you imagine living near such beauty?

Here is another angle..

I can't WAIT to go visit her! I hope she takes advantage of all Washington has to offer!

Well, gotta work today, then I'm off for a few days. Darrell and Connie are flying here Easter week, and we're ALLLLLLLLLLLLL sooooooooooooo excited! We have missed them terribly!

Mike and I are planning on a huge-normous cookout on April 10th in celebration of everyone being home and Easter and SPRING! We'll be taking loads of photos!!!

Have a great day everyone!

Joan

Our Anniversary...#24!

24 years....I thought it was more, but whatev. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! We didn't go out to eat or anything because I was busy...went to my guitar lesson, then to Lauren's soccer game. I stopped by the tanning bed place where Court works and said HEY!

Dillon came by last night after Court got off work and gave her her very own pink fishing pole!

She hasn't a CLUE how to use it, but they're going fishing on Friday and he said he would teach her. BOY, do I feel sorry for him!

Ashley called yesterday and they are headed back to port! They have stopped at an island and she took this picture..

It's an OTTER EATING A FISH! RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF HER! She said she tried to make the otter stop because the fish was in pain. awwww....

So, we got Ashley's truck ready to be shipped. Mike went and had a bed top put on it...

it looks really nice..

then we loaded up up with 6 35-gallon tubs FULL TO THE RIM with all her clothes..

Here it is, loaded and awaiting the transport company to come get it!

Britt has been working nearly every day at the nursing home. Today is her first day off and I may take her out for lunch and then to WAL-MART!!!!! WOOO-HOOOO!

OHHHH....Mom got a Blackberry the other day....pray for me and Dad.

Have a great day!

Joan

MORE SOCCER

Lauren had another game! Dad, Larry Jr. and myself captured the moment...myself more brilliantly so, but whatev!

I will say here that Lauren has the only goal of the entire team for the entire year so far!

Here she is on the GROUND!

YOU GO GURL!

She OWNS the field!

Here are what I took...http://picasaweb.google.com/joan29662/LaurenSoccer31610#

More soon!

Joan

Pickin' and a Singin'

Friday night, Mike, Court, ME, Mom and Dad all went to Pumpkintown for some pickin' and grinnin'!

We were awesome!

This was the group there...

Ya'll check out this next pic...I'm playing a G chord...Dad is playing a C. WHA??? HAAAAA!

We had fun tho!

Then, Saturday, Court was invited to sing the National Anthem at the Bull Riding Rodeo at the Bi-Lo Center here in Greenville.

Click on the arrow below if you want to hear her performance there...

She did great and the rodeo was alot of fun too!

Last night, we all went out to eat and Courtney's boyfriend went too! He is VERY nice and he and Court have alot of fun together pickin' and singing together. He's pretty good! I will get some video/pics of him, but I need to wait so as not to scare him off with my mad photo skills! HAAAAAAAAAA I have pics of him and Courtney in a posting below at Harold's benefit. Dillon is into the Rodeo thing "Chute Doggin'! (I need to google that to find out exactly what that is!)

and also works at the Fire Dept. His parents own a ranch, so they all love cows and stuff.

Gotta work today! Have a great day everyone!

Joan

Lauren plays Soccer!!!

My beautiful neice, Lauren can play soccer! I FINALLY was able to go to her game Monday and was beyond impressed! SHE OWNED THE FIELD! ...not only was she fantabulous, she LOOKED good playing! She has the hair I was meant to be born with, but wasn't. hee I also noticed that in addition to being able to play, she could socialize at the same time! (Lauren and Ashley ARE related, after all!!!)

Here is another great running shot!

Dad "MAY" or "MAY-NOT" have taken a couple of the above pictures. I forget.

What were WE doing during the game?

Alex did NOT share! hee

Here is a link to Dad's pictures...http://picasaweb.google.com/larrychanda/LaurenPlaysSoccerSouthsideVSHilcrest8March2010#

They're adequate, average etc...you'll see.

I took this next picture, Lauren will probley HATE it, but she looks so happy!

Her next game is Friday, and I will be there again with camera in tow ready to capture the moment. I need to figure out what the "SPORTS" feature is on my camera...that may be important when capturing action shots! ha

Britt has been busy working at the nursing home and Court has come back down to earth since her TV appearance on Monday. She was scrubbing tanning beds out last night at work! awwwww....now THAT would be a blog-worthy photo! BAH-HAAAAA

Ashley and her new Texas born BFF have found an apartment! It's very close to her boat AND to the Seattle Seahawk stadium...could that be Tebow's new home???? The building used to be the Wonder Bread factory and they converted it into condo's and apts. It's VERY VERY nice and the manager helped them out and came down on the rent and threw in a washer/dryer. AND, it has underground parking, so while they're out on patrol, their pick-ups will be safe and dry. Her room-mate is on her cutter also and drives an F-250. I guess they do everything bigger in Texas! They move in March 22.

We have to get Ashley's F-150 shipped out to her next week, so we gotta get busy. Mike is getting a locked cover for her truck bed. We got her several 45-gallon storage bins to put all her stuff in and put it in the back of the truck when it's hauled out there. Always something to do.

That's it from here! I have to work today and tomorrow, so I'll be busy. I had to work 3rd shift Monday night and it nearly killed me (I didn't sleep before going in). My 3rd shift days are DONE!!!

Have a great day!!!

Joan

Courtney and Bubba!!

Today, Court and Bubba sang on TV and was interviewed. They were fanTASTIC and we are all just SOOOOO PROUD!!!!! Here it is....

http://www.yourcarolina.tv/ycvideo/entry/f2/

I don't know how to embed the video, if I even can, so you gotta click on the link above.

Here they are being interviewed afterwards..

I know these pictures are a little blurry, but I couldn't have my flash on in the studio...I actually had to behave!

There was this huge screen in there with smaller screens split up... here is Courtney..

Here we were beforehand killing time...

That's it for the moment...I'm off to Lauren's soccer game at 5:30pm, so my photo skills will be put to use again!

Have a great day!

Joan